Christus geneest een jongen c. 1858

Bastiaan de Poorter sketched "Christ Healing a Boy," capturing a biblical scene of divine intervention. The motif of healing is rich with historical and cultural significance, resonating with collective desires for well-being and salvation. Consider the raised hands in supplication: this gesture transcends time, appearing in ancient Roman art as a sign of piety, and resurfacing during the Renaissance to signify humanity's connection to the divine. The act of healing itself echoes through various cultural expressions. In ancient Greek mythology, Asclepius, the god of medicine, possessed similar powers. One can trace this lineage to early Christian art, where Christ's miracles became central narratives, conveying messages of hope and redemption. The repetition of the hand gestures and the act of healing tap into a primal desire: the collective, subconscious memory of seeking comfort in times of despair. These images persist through time, subtly reshaping and re-emerging.